Harness



(No Model.)

R. J. CLARK.

HARNESS. No. 317,301. Patented May 5, 18-85.

N. PEHZIS. Pboh-Lithogrlphar. Wnhinm It c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT JAMES CLARK, OF CHESTNUT LEVEL, PENNSYLVANIA.

HARN ESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,301, dated May 5, 1885.

Application filed May 22, 1884.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, R. JAMES CLARK, of Chestnut Level, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description thereof, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention pertains to improvements in harness, having for its object, among other things, to effect a ready and adjustable connection between the pads and breast-strap, to'

accommodate the pads to the shoulders of different-sized horses; and to these ends the in vention consists of the combinations of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View of my improvement as applied for use upon a horse. Fig. 2 is a front view of the improvement with the shoulder pads and breast-strap to which it is applied removed from the animal. Figs. 3 and 4 are a perspective view and a longitudinal section of the improvement removed from the breast-strap and pads.

In carrying out my invention I employ in connection with the shoulder-pads A, which are suitably suspended in position, as shown at G, an adjusting breast-strap holder or device. Said device consists of socket or frame 0, a pressure-plate, E, an eccentric lever, D, said socket being connected to one of the pads A(upon its front side) at its ends, a slightlycurved slot, a, being provided in one end, (the forward end,) to vary the shifting or adjustment of the plate, according to the slope it is desired to give the pads in adapting them to the shape of the shoulders of horses of different sizes. The pressure-plate Eis arranged (N0 model.)

within the socket or frame 0, and beneath this plate is passed the breast-strap, as seen. The eccentric-lever D is pivoted between and to the sides of the socket or frame 0, with its eccentric or shoulder resting in a coincident recess or groove of the plate E, to enable it to act upon the latter and effect the holding of the breast-strap as against movement relatively to the pad to which it is thus held. By this arrangement it is also obvious that the pads can be adapted to the shoulders of differentsized horses, as above stated, to take the strain off the neck of the horse by adjusting the pads, as before described, and locking the levers in position. The outer free end of the lever has a transverse slot, which may be utilized to effect a connection between the pads and the traces by employing an adjusting device for each pad.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a harness, the combination, with the breast-strap and shoulder-pads, of the adjusting and holding device, substantially as described, to effect the adjustment of the pads to the shoulders of horses of different sizes, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the breast-strap and pads, of the adjusting device, comprising the case or socket having the slot in one end, the pressure-plate, and the eccentric lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT JAMES CLARK.

\Vitnesses:

S. JAMEs BOYD, WM. M. SEE. 

